Abstract: An apparatus for cranking an engine that includes a starter motor that includes an armature shaft, a pinion connected to the armature shaft for rotation about an axis, the pinion being able to translate along the axis relative to the armature shaft toward a fixed surface that limits said translation, an engine crankshaft, a ring gear engaged with the pinion and driveably connected to the crankshaft, and a first spring for urging the pinion elastically toward with the fixed surface and the ring gear and elastically resisting axial translation of the pinion away from the ring gear.

Abstract: A torque transfer system for cranking an engine includes a starter motor, an engine crankshaft, a pinion, a ring gear engaged with the pinion and driveably connected to the crankshaft, and a one-way clutch for alternately opening and closing a drive connection between the pinion and the starter motor.

Abstract: A starter motor is provided having a starter motor housing with an electric motor mounted therein. A stationary gear base mounted onto the starter motor housing and includes a plurality of pockets formed therein and spaced thereabout. A stationary gear is rotatably mounted within the stationary gear base for limited rotational movement and includes a plurality of legs that extend into the pockets. One or more variable rate dampening members are positioned within the pockets, circumferentially between the legs of the stationary gear and inner walls of the pockets. The variable rate dampening members provide variable rate dampening such that when the starter motor experiences high frequency, low amplitude oscillations the dampening members provide a first spring rate and when the starter motor experiences a high amplitude impact for a short duration of time, the dampening members provide a second spring rate that is stronger than the first spring rate.

Abstract: A starter motor is provided having a starter motor housing with an electric motor mounted therein. A stationary gear base mounted onto the starter motor housing and includes a plurality of pockets formed therein and spaced thereabout. A stationary gear is rotatably mounted within the stationary gear base for limited rotational movement and includes a plurality of legs that extend into the pockets. One or more variable rate dampening members are positioned within the pockets, circumferentially between the legs of the stationary gear and inner walls of the pockets. The variable rate dampening members provide variable rate dampening such that when the starter motor experiences high frequency, low amplitude oscillations the dampening members provide a first spring rate and when the starter motor experiences a high amplitude impact for a short duration of time, the dampening members provide a second spring rate that is stronger than the first spring rate.